Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A novel chrysanthemum of spider inflorescence type, having a 9 week response, and the ability to produce quality blooms throughout the year.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Jade (No. 73038052).

Jade is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with spider inflorescence type,with white inflorescence color, with 9 week flowering response, and withthe ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year round potmum programs. Such traits in combinaton were not present in previouslyavailable commercial cultivars.

Jade was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding programin Barberton, Ohio in 1972. The female, or seed parent, was White Spider2275 (No. 21660E02; unpatented; commercially available), a white spiderof parentage unknown to the present inventors. The male, or pollenparent, of Jade was Yellow Daisy Pot (No. 2168AE01; unpatented;commercially available), a yellow spooned daisy sport of White Daisy Pot(No. 21680E01; unpatented; commercially available). White Daisy Pot, awhite spooned daisy, is of parentage unknown to the present inventors.

Jade was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E.Duffett on Mar. 26, 1973 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Jade was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in May, 1973in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio by a technician workingunder formulations established and supervised by Walter H. Jessel, Jr.and William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected unitsinitiated June 13, 1975 has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Jade are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Jade has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity, and daylength. The followingobservations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown inBarberton, Ohio under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice, as described in Chart A whichappears at the end of the present specification. A light intensity chartof general use is shown in ASHAE Trans., Vol. 64, pg. 64 and referenceis made thereto.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Jade which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat inflorescence form, reflexing slightly at full maturity.

2. Spider inflorescence type.

3. Ivory white inflorescence color.

4. Diameter across face of inflorescence ranging from 140 to 165 mm. atmaturity.

5. Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

6. Medium plant height (requiring 1 to 2 long day weeks prior to pinchand short days and one application 2500 ppm B-9 SP 14 to 21 days afterthe beginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 30 to45 cm).

7. Semi-spreading branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Jade with colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a color photographof Jade. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph showing three views ofthe inflorescence of Jade. Sheet 3 is a black and white photographshowing the foliage of Jade at three stages of growth.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar existing cultivar in comparison to Jade is the maternalcultivar, White Spider 2275. Reference is made to attached Chart B whichcompares certain characteristics of Jade to those same characteristicsof White Spider 2275. It will be noted that Jade has smaller diameteracross face of inflorescence, shorter plant height, and shorterflowering response period than White Spider 2275. The inflorescencecolor, inflorescence form and inflorescence type of Jade are similar tothose same characteristics of White Spider 2275.

In the following description, color references are made to The MunsellColor Cascade, 1972 edition. The color values were determined between10:00 and 10:30 A.M. on June 9, 1976 under 200 foot-candle lightintensity at Barberton, Ohio.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat. cv Jade.

INFLORESCENCE

Capitulum (See Sheets 1 and 2 of drawings):

Form.--Flat, reflexing slightly with age.

Type.--Spider.

Permanence.--14 to 18 days.

Diameter across face.--140 to 165 mm.

Corolla of ray florets:

Persistence.--Resists shatter.

Color (abaxial).--26-4 to white.

Color (adaxial).--26-4 to white.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant to numerous; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance: semi-spreading branching pattern; medium height.

Foliage (See Sheets 1 and 3):

Color (abaxial).--Approximately 20-15.

Color (adaxial).--Approximately 21-15 overlaid with white.

                                      CHART A                                     __________________________________________________________________________    AVERAGE GREENHOUSE CHRYSANTHEMUM ENVIRONMENTS                                 USED FOR BARBERTON, OHIO                                                      TEMPERATURES USED                                                                        Bright                                                                             Cloudy                                                                             LIGHTING                                                                              BLACK CLOTH                                                                            SUPP                                    SEASON                                                                              Night                                                                              Day  Day  USED    USED     CO.sub.2                                __________________________________________________________________________    FALL  65° F                                                                       65° F                                                                       60° F                                                                       2 to 4 weeks                                                                          To Sept. 15                                                                            From                                                         at 3 Hours Per                                                                        on - 5:30 PM                                                                           Oct. 15                                       to   to   to   Night                                                                                 Off-7:30 AM                                                                            300 ppm                                       56° F                                                                       80° F                                                                       75° F                                                                       of 7-10 f.c.                                             WINTER                                                                              58° F                                                                       65° F                                                                       60° F                                                                       2 to 5 weeks                                                   to   to   to   at 5 hours Per                                                                        NONE     300 ppm                                                      Night                                                          62° F                                                                       70° F                                                                       65° F                                                                       of 7-10 f.c.                                             SPRING                                                                              58° F                                                                       65° F                                                                       60° F                                                                       2 to 4 weeks                                                                          From Mar. 15                                                                           To                                                                   on - 5:30 PM                                                                           Apr. 15                                       to   to   to   at 5 Hours Per                                                                Night   Off-7:30 AM                                                                            300 ppm                                       65° F                                                                       80° F                                                                       75° F                                                                       of 7-10 f.c.                                             SUMMER                                                                              62° F                                                                       70° F                                                                       65° F                                                                       1 to 2 weeks                                                   to   to   to   at 3 Hours Per                                                                        on-6:00 PM                                                            Night            NONE                                          68° F                                                                       90° F                                                                       75° F                                                                       of 7-10 f.c.                                                                          Off-8:00 AM                                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      CHART B                                     __________________________________________________________________________    COMPARISON OF JADE AND WHITE SPIDER                                                                        DIAMETER                                                           INFLORESCENCE                                                                            ACROSS FACE      FLOWERING                              INFLORESCENCE                                                                            FORM AND   OF         PLANT RESPONSE                        CULTIVAR                                                                             COLOR      TYPE       INFLORESCENCE                                                                            HEIGHT                                                                              PERIOD                          __________________________________________________________________________    Jade   Ivory      Flat       140 to                                                  white      spider     165 mm     Medium                                                                               9 week                         White                                                                         Spider Ivory      Flat       130 to     Very                                  2275   white      spider     175 mm     tall  10 week                         __________________________________________________________________________    COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN IN A GREENHOUSE                              IN BARBERTON, OHIO UNDER CONDITIONS AS DESCRIBED IN CHART A.              

we claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat. plant known by the cultivar name Jade and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatinflorescence form, reflexing slightly at full maturity; spiderinflorescence type; ivory white inflorescence color; diameter acrossface of inflorescence ranging from 140 to 165 mm at maturity; uniform 9week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plantheight; and semi-spreading branching pattern.